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How many calories are really burned?

MissMissle
MissMissle Posts: 293 Member
in Social Groups
Does anyone use a HRM when they ride??

I know that we all burn calories at completely different rates...but I'm interested in seeing what riding actually does burn - because - unless I'm jumping in a lesson, i don't feel like I'm breathing all that heavy... but maybe I just don't realize it because Im actually having fun? (Unlike every other form of exercise). I do get soaked, and I mean soaked in sweat in the summer.... but...Im a pretty heavy sweater...to say the least....

Has anyone used one and seen what they burn?

Better yet if my twin is on here....

I'm 155, 5'5" - ride 6 days a week for about an hour - 15 minutes walk, the rest generally equal parts trot / canter. Have no ide how many calories Im burning so I just do MFP "horseback riding, general"

Thanks!

Replies

  • OMGeeeHorses
    OMGeeeHorses Posts: 732 Member
    I ride with a bodymedia armband as well as a HRM ( actually had a lesson today, I am 5'3 and 290lbs..so sorry not a twin) but I burned 962 calories for a 72 min class.

    This was dressage class, the whole class was trotting (posting and like 10 min sitting trot and also minus 5 min of start and end cool down) and doing circles and side passes and so forth..I sweat as well, not HUGE amount..but enough to know I am burning. The real exercise you reap from riding a horse is leg and muscle toning and balancing your core.

    If you need any other questions, feel free to email me :).
  • MissMissle
    MissMissle Posts: 293 Member
    Wow that's a great burn! Thanks so much! I'm hoping a coupld other people will respond too so i can compile everyones data and get a better idea...or...I can just buy a HRM LOL. I had a lesson last night and certainly felt more "worked" than i do in my normal rides.... but I just logged it the same because I wasn't sure. Thanks again!!
  • suzetteducrepe
    suzetteducrepe Posts: 34 Member
    I think real exercise gurus would say that a HRM is really the only sure way to know actual calories burned. But personally I rely on the MFP estimates. One trend that I've noticed over time is that as you lose weight, you burn less calories doing your usual activities.

    I usually go on easy walking trail rides so I log it as walking, but if we pick up speed then I'll log the estimated time spent at each gait. Sad but true, it's usually up to my horse how fast we go. But there is definitely a difference in the work it takes to sit a walk versus staying with the mustang making a spirited gallop for home!

    I'm heading on a ride in a little while! Yay!
  • m00nflwr
    m00nflwr Posts: 103 Member
    If I take a mostly walking trail ride and enter it as "horseback riding, general" I feel like it's an overestimate of my cals burned and will use the walking entry. Trotting and cantering definitely ups my cals burned when riding and either I'll try to estimate our time spent walking or trotting or just use the "general" entry but since I don't use a HRM it's all just a hopefully close guess.

    I definitely felt like I was getting more of a workout in my lessons!
  • Okapi42
    Okapi42 Posts: 495 Member
    I ride with a bodymedia armband as well as a HRM ( actually had a lesson today, I am 5'3 and 290lbs..so sorry not a twin) but I burned 962 calories for a 72 min class.

    This was dressage class, the whole class was trotting (posting and like 10 min sitting trot and also minus 5 min of start and end cool down) and doing circles and side passes and so forth..I sweat as well, not HUGE amount..but enough to know I am burning. The real exercise you reap from riding a horse is leg and muscle toning and balancing your core.

    If you need any other questions, feel free to email me :).

    I'm not sure the bodymedia would be accurate - doesn't it rely on an accelerometer? I doubt it realises you're not reaching that speed under your own steam. 350 for an hour's schooling would be more like it.

    I use MapMyRun when I hack to track cals that way. I also use it for hiking, biking, and running, and riding is the only one where its cals are higher than MFP suggests.

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